victory

game over?

Posted on by Grace Day

“It is finished.” Those were Jesus’s last words, spoken as He hung on the cross. John records the event for us saying –

“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’s lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28-30)

I need to be clear, however. These were not Jesus’s last words – just His last words spoken from the cross upon which He hung. Contrary to all appearances, Jesus was not finished. Nor did Jesus say, “I am finished.” He said, “It is finished.” What was it? It was Jesus’s rescue mission. The purpose for which Jesus had come in the first place was now accomplished. Jesus came to make a way where there had been no way. Jesus made a way for you and for me to be rescued and to be reconciled to our Creator, God. There had been no way – until Jesus came. Jesus not only made a way for us – Jesus is the way for us. Jesus Himself said this –

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” (John 14:6)

On the cross, when Jesus took His last breath, “bowed His head and gave up His spirit” His followers surely thought this was “game over.” Jesus was buried in a tomb cut in the rock and that seemed to be the end. Except that it wasn’t. Three days later that tomb was empty and Jesus spent the next forty days hanging out with His disciples and others, reassuring and instructing them before His ascension into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for you and for me.

Jesus’s followers learned an important truth the day Jesus rose from the dead and was once again spending time with them. They learned that with Jesus it is never “game over.” Why had they doubted? Did they not remember the time Jesus called Lazarus to come out of the grave, after Lazarus had been dead and in that grave for four days?

“On His arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. . . . ‘Take away the stone,’ He said. . . . So they took away the stone. . . . Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’ ” (John 11:17, 39,41-44)

Did they not remember the time Jesus brought back to life the deceased son of a widow, even though the funeral procession was already in motion, carrying his coffin to his burial sight?

“As He (Jesus) approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out – the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. . . . Then He (Jesus) went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” (Luke 7:12-15)

Or how about the time Jesus brought a ruler’s dead daughter back to life? It wasn’t game over for this father or for his daughter. This ruler had the faith to put his hope in Jesus.

“a ruler came and knelt before Him (Jesus) and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’ Jesus got up and went with him, and so did His disciples. . . . When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd . . . After the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.” (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25)

With Jesus, no matter how dire the circumstance appears, it doesn’t have to be “game over.” No one should know this better than the criminal hanging on the cross next to Jesus. They were both being put to death by crucifixion. Talk about your dire circumstance. I think this qualifies. The situation was going steadily downhill. This appeared to be a circumstance completely devoid of hope, at least for the three individuals nailed to the three crosses. And yet the criminal on one side of Jesus said this –

“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)

WHAT? Is he delusional? By all appearances, this is a “game over” situation for all three individuals nailed to their respective crosses. And yet this guy makes this wild request of Jesus. Clearly, this criminal doesn’t believe it’s “game over” for Jesus – he thinks Jesus is coming into a kingdom and not just any kingdom BUT Jesus’s own kingdom where Jesus has the power and the authority to decide who comes in and who stays out. So, because he believes it’s not “game over” for Jesus, by extension, this man has hope that maybe, just maybe, it’s not “game over” for him either. Hence, his bold, outrageous request of Jesus to “remember him” when Jesus “comes into His kingdom.” Jesus’s reply?

“Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.’ ” (Luke 23:43)

GAME ON! This criminal’s impending physical death was NOT the end. As He hung there on that cross, Jesus was literally in the process of conquering death, paying our sin price and providing eternal life for anyone and everyone who would believe on His name, believe enough to humble themselves and ask Jesus to save them from their dire circumstances, just as the man on the cross next to Jesus had done. Jesus’s reply made it clear that it was not “game over” for Himself and it was not “game over” for the man making the request of Him either.

This is good news for you and for me, dear readers. It is not “game over” for us ever, no matter what kind of circumstances we find ourselves in. Consider Job – it was looking pretty bleak for him. His friends weren’t much help and Job complained that he couldn’t even find God. But then Job says something pretty surprising given his dire circumstances, showing that even in his darkest moments, Job didn’t believe it was “game over” for him because his faith was in God. Job believed in God’s goodness, in God’s ability to right the wrong of his circumstances, in God’s promise to bring him through his trial. In the middle of devastating loss and pain, Job declared –

“But He (God) knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Job did not believe it was “game over” for him, even though he had lost everything – his possessions, his children, his health. While it certainly looked like there was no coming back from these losses, Job held out hope because of his faith in God. With God it never has to be “game over.” Consider what Jesus said –

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ ” (Matthew 19:26)

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminded them of this truth – that God

“is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

There will come a time when my (and yours too, dear reader) earthly game is over BUT – that’s not the whole game – that’s not even half time. That’s more like maybe three seconds into “the game of life” – the life that we were created for. We were created for eternity and in eternity there is no “game over” – ever! That’s pretty good news, right?

So, I can take heart when the apparent “dead end” circumstance comes into my life. It is not “game over.” With God, it will be another new beginning. My Heavenly Father will not give up on me – ever. (nor on you, either) I have His word on that.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

King David faced a lot of dead ends and dire circumstances, situations where it appeared that all was lost. However, each time, he knew it was not “game over” for him and he said this –

“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

in Christ there is no “game over” in my future nor in yours!

sincerely, Grace Day

pain perks?

Posted on by Grace Day

That doesn’t sound right, does it? There’s an upside to pain? Well, there is the very familiar mantra – “no pain, no gain” which would seem to support the theory that pain does have its perks. Then there’s the saying – “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” Again, this seems to imply that there’s an upside to pain. Athletes would probably agree with this theory. The road to an athlete’s success, no matter what the sport, is probably paved with considerable pain, in addition to dedication and sacrifice. If you are watching any of the Olympic sporting contests currently in progress, you are seeing the results which are only achieved through the painful process of preparation that all athletes endure in order to realize their goal.

Of course, theirs is physical pain primarily. However, not just athletes, but each and every one of us endure emotional, mental, physical and spiritual pain as a part of the process that enables you and me to run life’s race and be successful. The apostle Paul knew about this. Paul would have preferred to bypass the pain, but he didn’t get a pass.

Paul had, as he himself described it – “a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me.” What did Paul do about this? We find the answer in 2 Corinthians.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ ”

Paul’s request was met with a definite “no.” How did Paul respond to having his request refused? Not in the way I would have expected him to do, nor in the way I think I would have responded. Paul didn’t pout or complain or argue or give up or walk away from his calling in Christ. He did just the opposite. Paul embraced his painful situation. How do I know this? I read Paul’s response after his request was turned down. Paul said –

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

I don’t know about you, but “delight” isn’t what comes to my mind when I am insulted, or when I am going through a tough time or when things are just so hard and painful that I want to give up, I want to quit. I prefer comfort to pain and ease over difficulty. BUT – if anything worthwhile is to be accomplished, pain and struggle will be a part of the process. Just ask any Olympic athlete – it is pain and having obstacles to overcome that lead to victory.

Paul had some things figured out in this regard. He endured many hardships in addition to his painful “thorn in the flesh.” Paul was shipwrecked, beaten and imprisoned many times. In Philippians, Paul shares with us his secret to enduring and even overcoming life’s painful trials and hardships. He says –

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul saying that he can do all things through the strength that God gives him, takes on a whole new meaning for me when I read Paul’s own account of the things he has experienced. Paul tells us –

“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)

That’s not a complete list, but you get the idea. Paul did not get the pain free life that Jabez requested and received. Still, Paul had no regrets. In fact, Paul said this in his letter to the church at Corinth –

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Paul’s been beaten, shipwrecked and imprisoned – none of that sounds very “light and momentary” to me. Yet that’s how Paul describes what he’s been through, saying the outcome of enduring these things will be an “eternal glory” for him, an outcome which will “outweigh them all”, meaning the hardships he has survived and overcome. This victory will make all the pain and suffering Paul endured worth it. I bet that’s how these Olympic athletes feel when they make the team or when they win a medal and take the podium to stand and receive their reward. James agrees with Paul on this matter. James says –

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

So I can be joyful in painful circumstances because the outcome will be better for me than if I had not encountered and endured pain in this life? I think Peter would attest to the truth of this. How do I know? Well, Peter said this –

” . . . now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

And Peter also said –

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13)

So the perk of pain is a good outcome – one that cannot be achieved apart from pain? It would seem to be so. Consider this –

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:17)

No suffering – no glory. No pain – no gain. I can expect pain in this life. Jesus told us –

“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. (John 15:20) Jesus also warned us –

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I can’t avoid pain in this life BUT – it does have its perks. What I endure, persevere through and overcome now, produces in me those things that my Heavenly Father desires, preparing me for what is to come. I want to be able to say along with Paul these words –

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Yes, pain has its perks. I am in the race of my life. I am in the race for my life. The pain of it is producing in me perseverance, as James said. Perseverance allows me to endure and eventually to overcome. Then I will receive that “crown of righteousness” Paul talks about. Definitely better than any Olympic gold medal! And we can each receive this prize – it is available to “all who have longed for His appearing.” So –

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, . . . Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

fighting the good fight, keeping the faith –

sincerely, Grace Day